Upskilling: The Role of the Access Coordinator with Bridge06

As part of WFTV's Upskilling programme, Sara Johnson and Julie Fernandez from Bridge06 invites WFTV members to an introduction into the value of the Access Coordinator role and its part in the jigsaw of change around disability representation in the industry.

Event Schedule:

17:55: Please join the webinar waiting room

18:00: In conversation with

18:45: Attendee Q&A opens

19:00: Finish

About Bridge06:

Bridge06 is a consultancy committed to Inclusion, joining the work being done to increase Disability Representation in the Film, Media and Entertainment Industries and beyond. It is founded by TV Drama Executive, Parent Carer, CODA and long-time disability advocate Sara Johnson, and co-led by full time Access Coordinator, Actor and Disability Consultant Julie Fernandez.

Together they are focussed on encouraging an Access First approach and believe strongly that the rollout of the Access Coordinator as a paid and valued position, is the entry point towards achieving this.  Bridge06 is committed to working with and alongside disabled-led organisations and individuals, advocacy groups and companies, bringing purpose, intent, commercial savvy and creativity together for long-term sustainable change.

Julie Fernandez

Julie is an Actress, Campaigner and Consultant.

Her 30 year acting career highlights are The Office, Eldorado, Holby City and Casualty. Julie has made documentaries and worked as a presenter alongside being a Disability Consultant. 

She founded The Disability Foundation charity in 1998 and was a foster parent for 5 years. Julie has been working full time as an Access Coordinator since April 2022 and has become the foremost expert in this role across HETV and all genres. 

She is committed to showing the industry the value of this role and indeed the joy that it brings to her in this new phase of her career.

Sara Johnson

Following her 25+ year career as a TV Drama Executive in the UK, alongside her life as a parent carer and daughter to a deaf mother, Sara Johnson decided to formalise her long-standing passion as a disability advocate by setting up the consultancy Bridge06 in October 2021. She was the Controller of Drama at Sky and the VP Scripted for Fox Europe & Africa, with the intervening years navigating life as a parent carer alongside her career in management roles in indies and international companies.

Sara still works as an Executive Producer on projects and for companies that align with her mission to make the UK production industry genuinely and sustainably Access First in its approach.

This event is for existing WFTV members only.

If you are not a member and would like to join, membership costs just £100 + VAT/yr , please click here or email admin@wftv.org.uk

At WFTV we’re really keen to ensure that all our events are accessible for everyone. So if you have any particular access requirements, please can you let us know before an event and we will do our best to accommodate you. We would be grateful if you can give us as much notice as possible – please contact admin@wftv.org.uk